Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1887-10-21
HATS OFF
For the Gay and Heroic Firemen
Who Made a Splendid Show
ing Yesterday.
The Parade a Success and the Bis
marck Department Receiving
Many Compliments.
The Parade.

With sounding of trumpet and beating
of drum and simmer of uniform grand,
the re-fghting heroes marched down the
damp streets with their hearts and their
boots full OF "sand." 1t was fireman's day.
The Bismarck department, than which
there is none better or more admired by
community, was out for annual inspection
and parade, and although the weather was
unfavorable and the streets not the most
inviting for pedestrians, the handsome
young protectors made magnificent
showing. At 2 o'clock the line was formed
at the engine house on Fourth street with
Chief Engineer Griffin and Chief Marshal
Moorhouse in the lead on two handsome
steeds. Then came the Fetzer COrnet band,
the Pioneer Fire company, the Pioneer
Hose No. l, and last the Banner Hook and
Ladder company with its encouragingly
large representation.
The Pioneer company was headed by its
trim and fervid-locked foreman, Sheriff
Donnelly, who marched with we'll found
ed pride at the head of the first fire COM
pany organized in Bismarck. The COM
pany is composed of good solid men, and
its record in the protection of property
from fire Is one unequaled by any company
in the west, because of its many years of
faithful service.
The Pioneer Hose company, which came
second, was headed by the feet and grace
full sprinter, Foreman Ole Holt, who is an
active and tenacious worker, but no more
so than each and every member OF his
handsomely uniformed company.
was tie BANNER HOOK and 1pIenie Ladder com CON-
pany, headed by that prince OF athletes and
irrepressible fireman, Foreman w. B. Bell.
Mr.. Bell was evidently in prime condition,
for. he marched with all that vigor
and Willowy grace which have won
him fame in the past, and his
alton in the parade, and which is com
posed of many of the most athletic young
men OF the city appeared to an enviabIe
advantage.
An object of much admiration in the par
ade was the chemical engine Of the Pho
neer fire company, which, hauled by the
magnificent gray steeds of the department
and polished into bright rejecting mirror
OF glistening brass by the artistic Watch
man Sloan, was an ornament of respIendent
brilliancy. The hose cart drawn by the
Pioneer hose company was another credit
able addition to the display, while the hook
and ladder truck, with its spirited dapple
gray roadsters came in for a goodly share
OF admiration.
The parade left no room for criticism,
The department is in excellent condition,
its men we'll uniformed, the discipline good,
the apparatus clean and we'll cared for,
the animals magnificent and the officers
common good. The people Of Bismarck
have often given expression to their appre-
citation of the efforts Of the firemen and the
TRIBUNE is glad of another opportunity to
extend to them the gratitude Of commu-
nifty which owes them much.
AT THE CLOSE.
of yesterdays parade the companies halted
at the engine house where Chief Griffin
presented them to Mayor Bentley who de-
livered neat, impromptu address express
sive of the public's appreciation of the ef-
forts of the department. He said that of
all organizations with which community
is blessed none approaches fire depart
ment in worth and merit, and the voIun-
teer tiremen such as compose the Bismarck
department cannot receive too much praise
for the unselfish and patriotic spirit which
they display in plunging into danger and
oft times facing death to protect the prop
erty and lives Of the community without
hope of reward or remuneration. He paid
agraceful tribute to the old time firemen of
Bismarck who composed the Pioneer fire
company when he first reached the city
and many of whom he say before him in
the uniformed ranks yesterday.
AT the close of the ceremonies in the en-
gine house the formal proceedings were
ended, and the gallant ladder-climbers and
hose-manipulatOrs organized themselves
into social brigade and filled the hall
with merriment and cheer.